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House Hansard - 206

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 5, 2023 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 206 - Jun/5/23
Mr. Taylor Bachrach (Skeena—Bulkley Valley, NDP)
  • Jun/5/23 2:13:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today, during Canadian Environment Week, to honour all the work of indigenous land guardians and the movement of indigenous land protection, a hopeful, inspiring movement that is integral to protecting the lands and waters of this special place we call home. It is based on the premise that the people best positioned to protect the land are the people of the land. I think of the Haida, whose modern land guardians have been patrolling the lands and waters of Gwaii Haanas since 1981. I think of the Kaska, whose bold vision for land protection in northern B.C. is called Dene K’éh Kusān in Kaska, translating to “Always will be there.” I think of the late Jarett Quock, whose work with the Tahltan land guardian program was so important and whose leadership is so dearly missed. There are over 120 land guardian programs in Canada; I do not have enough time to speak of all of them. Suffice to say that, at a time when we are bombarded with bleak environmental news, indigenous land protection and land guardians are a source of hope. I am very proud that the NDP stands with indigenous land guardians and indigenous nations in this important work.
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